Beaufort, NC Activities & Things to Do

Fishing trips to guided tours, no doubt about it, there are so many things to experience in Beaufort, North Carolina. Here is a list of activities that you and your family can enjoy while on vacation here in historic Beaufort.

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Private Family & Friends Fishing Charter

Reserve a Private Charter for an unrivaled Cape Lookout experience, book one of our Fishing Charters, and spend a half-day or full-day fishing for the local species. Or, take advantage of our COMBO-Day package, which gives you a half-day of fishing, combined with a half day personalized private charter in the waters of the spectacular Cape Lookout area.

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$225.00

Dolphin Adventure

Sightings may include Dolphins, Sea Turtles, Ospreys, Herons, and more!

A pristine convergence of rivers, estuaries, feeding grounds & open ocean, our local waterways are home to dozens of fascinating species, including bottlenose dolphin, playful sea otters, hunting ospreys, graceful egrets, herons, black skimmers, and more… This cruise will focus on getting you up close & personal with the local dolphin, but there are sure to be quite a few enjoyable encounters with numerous other colorful “locals”.

The Lookout Adventures vessel is perfect for a relaxing and intimate cruise in the winter months because the pilothouse helps protect you from any wind or cold. Just dress warmly and you’ll be perfectly comfortable.

The Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin show up in huge pods during the winter, spending their time in the inland bays & rivers calving and rearing their young.

(Route may vary during inclement weather/water conditions.)

1-6 Guests Maximum

Only “Guaranteed” from November to May

Reservations are Necessary

Boat has full enclosures, so even a trip during the colder months is comfortable and enjoyable. Boats is fully US Coast Guard inspected & carry all the latest required safety gear.

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$395.00

Wild Horse Cruise

The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks & Carrot Island are the focal point of this adventure cruise. The historical past of these islands & inlets dates back more than 400 years, and the surviving island inhabitants serve as a timeless reminder of a captivating time gone by.

The cruise takes you only in protected waters, not in the open ocean, and each destination is full of interesting and captivating history and legend. From the cemeteries of Shackleford Banks to the heroic tales of the families of Harkers Island, your Captain will provide the colorful local knowledge to accompany the stunning visual landscapes.

And if that wasn’t enough, you’ll enjoy a captivating trip down Taylors Creek and along the Historic Beaufort NC Waterfront, which was just voted the “Coolest Small Town in America” by a national website.

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$325.00

Sunset Waterfront Cruise

A great way to end the day! Enjoy nature’s fireworks as the sun sets

Enjoy the magnificence of nature’s panoramas and quaint historic waterfront villages bathed in the breathtaking light of a stunning seaside sunset. Relaxation and serenity is the goal as we glide over the water towards our rendezvous with the setting sun.

Float past the Historic Beaufort Waterfront, the NOAA Research Lab on Piver’s Island and the Rachel Carson Reserve, which is home to a captivating herd of wild horses.

You’ll return to the dock with a rejuvenated frame of mind and a renewed respect for the therapeutic benefits of a peaceful boat trip through an exquisite natural & historic wonderland.

You’ll really enjoy being closer to the water, experiencing the glide, and really tuning in to the environment around you.

Soft, classy music and gentle rocking motions make this cruise one that you’ll remember fondly as you recall your time at the NC coast.

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Beaufort Ghost Walk

Take an after dark stroll through a Historic Town full of Haunted Tales. Chilling stories of murderous pirates, unexplained happenings, ghost ships and haunted houses will have you looking over your shoulder on the way home.

Walk the same streets as Blackbeard & see a 300-year old cemetery.

As enjoyable as it is entertaining, the Beaufort Ghost Walk is one of our most popular attractions and one that shouldn’t be missed. Families and Groups have a blast on this tour. Kids love it!

What is a Ghost Walk?

The Beaufort Ghost Walk is a Pirate Guided Walking Tour through the Historic District of Beaufort, North Carolina. Founded in 1709, Beaufort is the 3rd oldest town in NC, and the 12th oldest town in North America. On the Ghost Walk, you will be entertained by your Pirate Guides, as they regale you with an enjoyable assortment of haunted tales, ghost stories, and interesting histories of the Beaufort area. In addition, you will hear about some of the amazing unexplainable encounters experienced by both our guests and guides during Ghost Walks of the past.

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Shackleford Wild Horse and Shelling Safari

Take a 15 minute ferry ride over to the pristine Outer Banks Island of Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. There you will be introduced to the Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks.

This free roaming herd is believed to have descended from Horses that were brought here roughly 400 years ago, and still survive as one of the last isolated groups of wild horses in the US. You will help your guide track the horses and see first hand the fascinating behavior of horses in the wild, a rare experience with nature that you’ll never forget. Bring your camera for pictures that will forever remind you of this amazing place and its fascinating inhabitants.

After the tour, you will be directed to one of the best shelling beaches in all of North Carolina where you can spend some time on your own shelling your way down the beach, with the Cape Lookout Lighthouse off in the distance. Shackleford is well known as one of the best shelling destinations on the East Coast. Among other things, you can find Conchs, Whelks, Queen’s Helmets, Scotch Bonnets, Olive Shells, Sand Dollars, and more.

You can spend the rest of the day at the Seashore and return on your pre-scheduled ferry back to Beaufort, and you can even bring your chairs and coolers!

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Sail to Cape Lookout

42 Passenger Catamaran Sailboat | Catered Lunch | 6 hour trip

Daily Sailing Trips from Beaufort, NC for up to 42 passengers. 20 years of experience chartering in these waters

The beauty of the Cape Lookout lighthouse and its pristine surroundings is unparalleled. You’ll really appreciate the stability and comfort of this 45-foot catamaran as we briskly make the six mile ocean voyage to one of the premiere anchorages in America. Out cruise departs at 12 noon for the 1-1/2 hour sail to Cape Lookout where you’ll enjoy two hours of unbelievable swimming, snorkeling and some of the best shelling on the east coast.

Upon arrival at Cape Lookout, we beach the boat and serve up a delicious catered lunch from the Beaufort Grocery Co. Restaurant. When you taste their signature sandwiches, salads and desserts, you’ll see why locals and visitors alike have made Beaufort Grocery Co. a favorite. Your bathing suit and beach towel are all you need when you come with us to Cape Lookout. The rest is pure enjoyment! On board stairs offer easy access on the off the boat. Large clean restrooms and a freshwater shower are also provided for the return trip where we’ll take you past the lighthouse for spectacular photos and a brief history of the 160′ tower. So come with us and enjoy a memorable day on the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Many say that this is the best trip out to Cape Lookout. You’ll never forget it.

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Sunset Sail

Our trip departs each evening for a 7-8:30pm cruise that promises a view to take your breath away. The red and yellow North Carolina sunsets are some of the most beautiful in the world, and they’re yours to enjoy as we sail from the Beaufort waterfront into the gentle breezes of early evening. Relaxing, Romantic and an Unforgettable Experience. With friends or family, it’s a terrific way to wrap up the day!

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Dolphin Sail

Lookout Cruises offers a daily morning sail to a place where the dolphin come to play year after year. These dolphin are familiar friends to Lookout Cruises. Recognized by their individual dorsal fins, we’ve even named a few! Just a few feet from the boat, you can watch the dolphin playing together in their natural habitat.

We join them every morning and you can, too! This trip is great for adults and children of all ages.

The cruise departs daily from the Beaufort waterfront at 9:20am and returns at 11:15 am.

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Kayak & Paddle Board Tours and Lessons

Beaufort Inlet Watersports is the area’s oldest watersports company, offering kayak and stand up paddle board tours and lessons. Your experience with Beaufort Inlet Watersports is bound to be a memory that lasts you and your loved ones a lifetime. Since the company’s inception we have provided over 10,000 customers with a positive experience and we would love for you to continue the tradition.

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Beaufort Hang Gliding

Experience the Crystal Coast like you never have before … soaring from 2,000 feet or a mile high with a professional instructor from the world’s largest Hang Gliding School!

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974 and is proud to be offering this amazing experience in Beaufort, NC!

Tandem Hang Gliding flights are a wonderful way to view the beauty of the Crystal Coast from the prospective of a bird. Imagine yourself ready to fly, feel the breeze on your face. The tandem instructor will coach you along this entire aerial journey as you feel the glider take you aloft behind our lightsport aircraft. Once released from the tow plane, you will experience the euphoria of free flight as you and the instructor glide gently back to the airport. This is the ultimate bucket list adventure! Minimum Age: 10 Years Old.

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Kayak Tours & Lessons

Our most popular trip will have you paddling Taylor’s Creek located in the East Carolina Intertidal area to the Rachel Carson Wildlife Reserve where you will experience the bountiful wildlife and its history as one of the only Marine Estuaries on the East Coast where you can perhaps “walk with the wild horses” during a 1/2 hour shore excursion into the Wildlife Reserve.

This trip is perfect for families/groups of two to six participants or beginners because we design each adventure to take place in concert with the natural ebb and flow of the tides so you will always have the tide at your back and have a great experience.

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Stand Up Paddleboard Tours & Lessons

Our most popular trip is also offered on Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs). As you paddle down Taylor’s Creek located in the East Carolina Intertidal area to the Rachel Carson Wildlife Reserve you will experience the bountiful wildlife and its history as one of the only Marine Estuaries on the East Coast where you can perhaps “walk with the wild horses” during a 1/2 hour shore excursion into the Wildlife Reserve.

This trip is perfect for families/large groups or beginners because we design each adventure to take place in concert with the natural ebb and flow of the tides so you will always have the tide at your back and have a great experience.

Stand Up Paddleboarding is a mixture of power and grace all while taking in a vista of the natural world from the unique perspective of walking on the surface of the water.

This fun activity provides all the benefits of a good cardio workout if you like or all the peace of a yoga workout if that’s your chosen speed, it’s your choice.

And when you stand up paddleboard, or “SUP” as we like to call it, through the Rachel Carson Wildlife Reserve, you can choose your speed and course, all while you take in the pristine natural beauty of an Atlantic saltwater marsh and the coastal marine habitat that is home to the world-famous herd of “Bankers”, wild horses that are descendants of the shipwrecked stallions who washed ashore by Spanish Galleons so many centuries ago.

We offer guided trips and lessons aboard our SUP fleet through this important natural seascape found only on Eastern Carolina’s Crystal Coast.

Have An Activity?

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